Are you obsessed with hops? Have you embraced the cloudy East Coast IPAs, or do you still yearn for the hop blast characteristic of West Coast IPAs?
It would be nice to enjoy a Heady Topper or Pliny the Elder all the time, but those bottles can be pricey. Many premium hop-forward brews go for $10 or more for a six-pack. No matter your preference in hoppy beers, finding them on a tight budget can be a challenge.
Challenging, yes — but not impossible. We tracked down eight flavorful hoppy beers you might be able to score for under $8 a six-pack.
Below we list each beer along with its International Bitterness Units (IBU), a metric for bittering compounds in beer on a scale roughly from 1 to 120. Most IPAs fall between 40 and 100 on that scale. We also note each beer’s alcohol by volume (ABV) and its Beer Advocate score, which is graded on a 1-to-100 scale.
1. Goose Island IPA – IBU: 75 ABV: 5.9% Beer Advocate Rating: 85
This is the easiest bottle to locate on our list: Goose Island IPA represents solid value. Whether you care about craft pedigree or not, if you’re seeking a hop hit, this Chicago-brewed beer delivers.
It pours a straw-gold hue with a slightly fruity nose. Brewed with Cascade, Centennial, Pilgrim and Styrian Celeia hops, the beer is bright, crisp and quite drinkable. You can often find it on sale for $7.99 or less.
2. Wiseacre Ananda – IBU: 75 ABV: 6.1% Beer Advocate Rating: 85
Ananda is a golden delight hailing from Memphis, Tennessee. It’s a single-hop IPA that showcases the Bravo hop, which isn’t commonly used by brewers. The beer pours a lighter yellow-gold and gives off citrus and floral aromas. With traces of orange and vanilla, it provides a pleasant hop hit on the palate.
The name Ananda comes from Sanskrit for “bliss,” so you get a fun trivia tidbit when you open one. I found this IPA on sale for $6.99 for a six-pack.
Bonus: the can art is excellent.
3. Flying Fish Extra Pale Ale – IBU: 11.2 ABV: 5.2% Beer Advocate Rating: 77
If you want something lighter but still with a hop presence, Flying Fish Extra Pale Ale fits the bill. This American Pale Ale registers a low 11.2 IBU. While its Beer Advocate score isn’t stellar, it can claim the title of top-selling craft beer at Philadelphia Phillies home games.
It pours a pale yellow with a creamy head that offers notes of barley malt and a hint of citrus. Flying Fish uses Palisades, Columbus, Warrior and Citra hops sparingly to create a smooth-drinking APA. Keep an eye out — it often goes on sale for $7.99 or less.
4. Session IPA – IBU: 47 ABV: 5.1% Beer Advocate Rating: 78
Oregon’s Full Sail Brewery crafts the easygoing Session IPA. Intentionally brewed to be lighter in hops and alcohol, Session IPA has earned two gold medals from the World Beer Championships. Not bad for a beer you can often get for $7.50 or less per six-pack.
Full Sail doesn’t advertise the hop bill heavily, so your palate will do the detecting. In the glass, Session IPA shows a deep gold with copper hints. Its aroma features pine notes with a touch of sweetness. With citrus and spice on the palate, it’s a great choice for a sweltering afternoon.
5. Summit Saga IPA – IBU: 80 ABV: 5.1% Beer Advocate Rating: 89
You might need to be in the upper Midwest to regularly find this one for under $8 a six-pack, but it does go on sale occasionally. If you favor citrus-forward IPAs with tropical hints, Summit Saga could be your match. This Minnesota-brewed beer uses hops like Centennial, Amarillo, Citra and Rākau.
Saga pours a clear orange and delivers abundant tropical fruit aromas. With 80 IBUs, this IPA brings substantial hop power without draining your wallet. Sometimes you can even score a deal on 12-packs if you can spare a few extra dollars.
6. New Belgium Citradelic Tangerine IPA – IBU: 50 ABV: 6% Beer Advocate Rating: 86
From a Colorado brewery that helped spark the craft-beer movement comes this juicy IPA. Citradelic pours a hazy gold and has a light tangerine and citrus aroma. Made with tangerine-infused orange peel, the beer drinks light and refreshing.
It’s not the pick if you’re after dank, resinous pine notes. But for folks who prefer a citrusy IPA, it’s a dependable option. New Belgium brews often appear on sale for $7.99 per six-pack. Try this one — it’s unlikely to disappoint.
7. Redhook Long Hammer IPA – IBU: 44 ABV: 6.2% Beer Advocate Rating: 75
Long Hammer has been a shelf staple for years. This Washington-born brew is for those who appreciate Cascade hops. It pours a clear amber and offers citrus and pine on the nose.
Long Hammer IPA is hop-forward and often priced at $7.99 or less. It’s a classic West Coast-style IPA that gives solid bang for your buck.
8. Sierra Nevada Torpedo Extra IPA – IBU: 65 ABV: 7.2% Beer Advocate Rating: 92
What more could you want from a beer? Torpedo scores a 92 on Beer Advocate and even higher from some enthusiasts. At 7.2% ABV, it delivers the most alcohol-by-volume punch of any beer on this roundup. Torpedo pours a clear copper and carries aromas of grapefruit and tropical fruit.
It includes Magnum, Crystal and Citra hops for robust citrus-forward character. Few breweries are as synonymous with excellent pale ales as Sierra Nevada. When Torpedo is on sale, you can pick up a six-pack for $7.99 and taste how impressive an affordable IPA can be.
You don’t have to spend $10 to satisfy your hop cravings. There are plenty of terrific beers that deliver a hoppy profile without a hefty price. This list isn’t exhaustive — availability will vary by region.
Whenever possible, support smaller local breweries, but when you need a cheap six-pack that still tastes great, keep these options in mind.
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